Mini-Frame Keyring Holders

These 2 are made from 4"x6" frames with some decoupage and hooks:

Three of 3 Warm Accessory Organizers

The last features plastic canvas, hooks and a magnet strip:

Two of 3 Warm Accessory Organizers

Here is the second which features plastic canvas for earrings, 2 hooks and 2 pegs for necklace and bracelet storage:

One of 3 Warm Accessory Organizers

I had 3 open back oak (barf) frames which I decided to use the same color palette on.  This is the first one completed which features 3 pegs for necklaces, a magnet strip for bobby pins, and a ribbon for hanging earrings or hair clips:

Beige Earring and Necklace Holder

This, one of the first, "Functional Facelifts" is a very basic earring and necklace holder, just 8"x10" in size, perfect for a petite jewelry collection:

Neon Jewelry Organizer

This "Functional Facelift" posed a few problems along the way but came to completion today.  It's a pretty basic jewelry organizer popping with neon colors:

Open front Shadowbox for photo clipping

This "Functional Facelift" was the marriage of 2 pieces of would-be trash discarded by customers at work.  I measured and cut the mock litho print to fit the shadowbox exactly scoring it so the picture would line it, removed the glass and stretched crocheted cotton chains across the front.  It's purpose is for clipping pictures and/or notes as a quick, easily interchanged display case.  I love how it turned out:

Accessory Organizer

This is one of my most clever "Functional Facelifts".  At least I think so anyways.  The main frame of it was actually a cast off from another project when it turned out I didn't need it for that.  I decoupaged paper on it and added hooks, pegs, a dowel, plastic canvas, and a magnet strip for the ultimate accessory organizer.

closeup of bottom left corner

closeup of upper right corner

Beachy Sunglasses Frame

This is one of the first "Functional Facelifts" I made.  An open back frame with a cool paint job and a bit of ribbon makes a sweet sunglasses holder:

Fun Flowery Photo Holder

Another project for "Functional Facelifts":

I got 4 of these 5"x8" wood blocks from Y's Buys awhile back for $1.99.  This one transformed via paint, decoupage, and ribbon into a cutesie photo holder that can hold 4 images (2 at top, bottom frame is 2-sided).

Argyle Mini Mirror

I've been gradually finishing off handful of projects I've been working on for the upcoming Artists Against Hunger Exhibition.  The series is called "Functional Facelifts" in which I give thrifty found objects a new look and purpose.  I want to share them one by one as I complete and then document them.  So here goes...

I found this little framed mirror at the Goodwill for $1.50.  I primed it and then gave it a few healthy coats of yellow-orange paint.  I sassed up the front with a puffy paint pattern and the sides with some decoupaged argyle paper.  It's something like 3"x12" not including the frame.  I think it's totally adorable:

 

Little Foot

Recently I decided to take my Mother's Day gift from earlier this year (the awesome one I made for myself) and my gift from my own mom and combine them into a sweet little shadowbox.

The item I made is a little salt dough impression of Skylar's foot.  It says "Skylar Helen, May 12, 2013, 13 mo."  I painted it with nail polish because I've always liked how it shines despite never using it on my fingers and rarely on my toes.  I also embellished with a ribbon and beads.  In the base of the box are 6 yellow dried roses that I received from my mom on the holiday which shares the weekend annually with the Avera Race Against Breast Cancer.

The completed project now resides on the family wall of my living room:

I also made a salt dough impression with my grandmother's hand, my mother's hand, my hand and Skylar's hand.  I baked it but I haven't decide how I'd like to paint it so it's sitting on the back burner with a handful of other projects.

Baby's First Year: Month to Month Photos

I haven't decided yet how I'd like to execute this project that's been stewing around in my brain for awhile.  I see these ideas floating around on Pinterest about ways to portray and display one's baby photos of the first year.  Well, as I said, I don't really know how I'd like to display my photos of Skylar but I've been fairly diligent about taking pictures of her (how could I not? so cute!).  I just went through my photos and cropped down one newborn pic and then one for each month up until 10 months.  It's so fun to see the progression and growth.  I will update again when I figure out how I either want to scrap these or frame them for the wall.  At any rate, I wanna share my love:

Newborn Skylar

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

I may end up finding other in between photos to fill in.  It really is remarkable how quickly she's changing all the time.  It's an exciting adventure... I enjoy the keepsakes and cherish the memories.

Random Bit of the Day

I've been meaning to make this a random bit of the day since I first saw this poster at work almost 2 weeks ago...I just kept forgetting the link in my car...

At any rate, the poster is of my favorite place and other home, Chicago.  And I MUST HAVE IT!!!


http://www.orkposters.com/chicago.html



The poster I saw was the 24" x 34" sweet blue...and the customer had gotten a narrow white custom mat to fit in a 24" x 36" pewter Trendsetter poster frame.  Eww...If I were to get a poster, I'd get the 18" x 24" black and white for $22 and put it into a black 18"x 24" frame.  Buuuut, now that I've browsed the site a little I'd rather pay $27 for an 18" x 24" screenprint, either the Windy City Blue Print or the Neo-Punk Black Print.  I will be getting this...eventually.  Maybe tax return or my birthday...

Matt's Best Friends

This is a companion painting to the one of baby Ella, also 8"x10" acrylic.  It is of Matt and Jessica's dogs Blue (left) and PeeWee.  They loved this one as well.

Baby Ella Painting

This is an 8"x10" acrylic painting I finished about a week ago, framed and gave to Jessica and Matt for Christmas.  I knew the picture was a personal favorite of both of them and they loved the painting.

Hippos and Finger cuts.

I sold this hippo today...or rather, my mom sold it for me as she brought my baby hats to school this week to see if there was interest amongst her coworkers.

 Score!  Another one of my personal favs sold.

On a not so awesome note, I sliced my left index finger open on a giant piece of glass today...curse that stupid jersey sew!  The cut's right on the pad so typing takes longer.  It's actually kinda nasty...I need to better equip my at-home first-aid kit for cuts of this nature.  I need some rubbing alcohol, neosporin and more bandaids.  I have work in the morning so I can doctor it there.

On another better note, I finished Angela's marvelous soft plum hat and scarf with tassels set this evening.  I also worked for awhile on Ella's monster...though it's coming along nicely now, I'm gilding the lilies so to speak when it comes to the decorative elements so it's taking longer than expected.  It will be so wonderfully awesome when it's finished.  Everyone will want one.

That's all for now.

Work work work and sick to boot

I woke up very fluish early this morning, after having gone to bed pretty late...It was a Z day so I was home for the day and then worked again this evening.  I've got lots of hours this week and it's been kinda nutso.  I went to Matt and Angela's house last night for a little art night.  Strange thing is that both Angela and I were sick sick sick this morning.  Actually she was all day.  I stopped feeling nauseous long enough to eat earlier.  But I've been feeling queasy since shortly before I left for my shift.  Despite having had very little but water today, I'm still debating whether to try eating something before bed.  Better not; better safe than sorry.
Anyways, my key projects outside of work now are Christmas presents for my family.
I'm still pondering Mom and Dad, though I'm considering buying a ready-made open back frame for one of my paintings that is hanging in their house.  I'm pretty sure the size is 16" x 20" but I'll prolly sneak over there during the day to measure and to check how wide a frame can fit in the space allowed.
For Aaron and Terri, I'm thinking of basically doing a scaled back version of Ella's nursery mural only frog-themed.  I'd probably be able to use the leftover paint from Ella's if it's still good.
For Jessica and Matt, I want to do 2-8" x 10" paintings; one of little Miss Ella herself and one of Blue and Peewee.
I'm still not sure what to do for Jon and Marcy yet, though another open-back frame for the painting I did for their wedding is a potential idea.
For Chloe, I'm doing a small gouache painting of my goldfish silhouettes forming transparencies by overlapping.  I plan on putting it in a little float frame...I know it's not a super exciting gift for an almost 4-year old but knowing her dad and stepmom, she'll have it forever.
For Ella and Z, I'm making them baby hats...a monster or 2 for Ella, a bear and a basic brown hat for Z.
That about covers everyone.

I totally lost a ton of potential work time today on my gifts because of this nasty bug.  L.A.M.E.
I just didn't feel like painting...you know something's wrong with me if I don't want to paint.  Sheesh.
Well, I don't work till 2 tomorrow so I may indulge on some breakfast in bed (ie my guilty pleasure show on soap net) and paint.  I look forward to real breakfast too...my morning today was just all sorts of outta whack without my coffee.  And with that I bid you adieu...